Consider the Philadelphia Phillies’ chances in 2013 and this is what comes to mind: Getting old is no fun. Then this: Man, that team got old in a hurry.

At least the New York Yankees’ old guys are on the wrong side of 35. Not so for the Phillies. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are 33, Jimmy Rollins and Cliff Lee 34 and Roy Halladay is 35. Being on the hook for roughly $250 million for that group can’t be comforting.

But what is happening to the Phillies is not unusual. When a team enjoys success, the players responsible for that success cash in. No team was more successful during the Phillies’ five-year reign atop the National League. From 2007-2011, Philly averaged nearly 95 wins a season, won a World Series, reached another World Series and led the majors with 27 playoff wins. By any standard, it was a remarkable run.

It just wasn’t supposed to end quite so quickly.

On Dec. 15, 2010, the Phillies signed Lee to boost a rotation that figured to rule the NL for years. In Year 1, they set a franchise record with 102 wins before the St. Louis Cardinals stunned them in the playoffs. The lasting image was provided by Howard when, making the final out in the NLDS, he collapsed coming out of the batter’s box with a blown-out Achilles’ tendon.

The Phillies haven’t been able to pick themselves up since.

Their chances of doing so in 2013 are no better than those of Cole Hamels buddying up to Bryce Harper. Harper and the Washington Nationals present the first problem. While the Phillies try to hold off decline, the Nationals—as well as the Atlanta Braves—have soared past them.

Catching up is more challenging because of age and the toil it takes. Halladay is returning from an injury-derailed season best explained by a heavy workload for all those years. Utley’s days as an elite player are done because of knee woes, which resulted in part from a maniacal work ethic. Howard’s power remains uncertain because no one knows when (or if) he will return to full strength after his Achilles’ injury, which he suffered from trying to play at less than 100 percent.

“The type of injury that he had is very serious,” manager Charlie Manuel admitted during his winter meetings powwow with the media.

Oh yeah, Philadelphia also was dealt a blow by stupidity when its MVP, catcher Carlos Ruiz, was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2013 season for testing positive for amphetamines.

Not even signing Josh Hamilton (don’t hold your breath) would make the Phillies a better pick than the Nationals in the NL East. Hamilton, of course, is out of the Phillies’ reach because of the high price of their success. The aforementioned five superstars, along with Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon, will make $123.5 million next year, crimping the club’s ability to upgrade. Philadelphia entered the offseason in serious need of upgrading, too, with (at least) two holes in the outfield, and one at third and in the bullpen. Trading for Ben Revere takes care of center field, but the price included Vance Worley, which created a hole in the back of the rotation. Michael Young makes a creative fix at third because the Texas Rangers are eating a huge chunk of the $16 million left on his contract.

Because the Phillies didn’t overextend on Revere or Young, they could have as much as $15-20 million to spend on a starter, setup reliever and, most important, a corner outfielder. They need a righthanded power bat to play right field and hit behind Howard. Ideally, he would be a free-agent signee because the club already has depleted its farm system over the past few years.

After Hamilton, switch hitter Nick Swisher is the best outfielder on the market, but his agent, Scott Boras, entered the offseason talking about a Jayson Werth-sized deal. Even if Swisher settles for half of that, he could be out of the Phillies’ range. Cody Ross would be more affordable, but he is drawing plenty of interest elsewhere. Delmon Young is another potential fit but, to this point, the Phillies haven’t shown any interest (and they aren’t the only ones).

Bringing in one free-agent outfielder would leave the other corner to be filled in-house. The club doesn’t want to go in-house at both spots, though, because of a lack of candidates. The Phillies have just about given up on Dominic Brown, John Mayberry Jr. has yet to prove he can be an everyday player and power prospect Darin Ruf has only 33 major league at-bats.

For the back of the rotation, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has told reporters he is looking for a veteran who will sign a one-year deal for a bargain price. The same holds for a setup reliever. But whoever ends up with these jobs won’t determine the fate of the Phillies next season.

The Phillies will go as far as their old guys lead them, which as this oldster can tell them, won’t be as far as it used to be.